Feds Arrest 24 in Texas Drug Bust

KRISTIN TATE18 Oct 2014

HOUSTON, Texas — According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 24 more people have been arrested for their alleged roles in a large drug ring based in Austin, Texas.

The drug ring was involved in trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, according to a DOJ press release obtained by Breitbart Texas. The new apprehensions, which were announced on Thursday, bring the total number of people arrested in connection with the ring to 34.

KVUE reported that among the 24 individuals recently arrested were two Austin-based lawyers: 45-year-old Richard Patrick Fagerberg and 39-year-old David Ramos.

The DOJ press release said, “The defendants have allegedly participated in a conspiracy to distribute various amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine since May 2013. During this 16-month-long operation, authorities have seized approximately 87 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of methamphetamine, four firearms, close to $1.5 million in criminally derived assets in connection with this investigation.”

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph Arabit said in a statement, “Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our communities. DEA, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Austin and throughout Texas, will remain relentless in our pursuit of the vicious criminal individuals and drug trafficking organizations who threaten our safety and stability. These arrests send a strong and unified message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our communities and those who commit these offenses will be brought to justice.”

Many of the defendants could face in prison; others face up to 40 years.